Football briefs: Seahawks may be thinking about sacking defensive coordinator

Friday

Nov 28, 2008 at 12:01 AMNov 28, 2008 at 7:22 PM

Includes NFL whispers on Cardinals, Browns and Cowboys, as well as Fantasy Buzz from Pro Football Weekly.

Pro Football Weekly staff

After the Seahawks defense allowed more than 400 yards for the fifth time this season (447) and failed to register a sack for the first time this season, the heat has intensified on a unit that has greatly underachieved. Word is the defense’s sharp decline could lead to the departure of defensive coordinator John Marshall, with head coach-in-waiting Jim Mora said to be setting his sights on Ed Donatell, who served as Mora’s defensive coordinator with the Falcons from 2004-06. Donatell is currently the D-coordinator down the road at the University of Washington under Ty Willingham and figures to be available, with Willingham set to leave the Huskies after this season. Marshall’s defensive scheming has been open to question, the latest case being his reluctance to call blitzes until late in the first half of the Seahawks’ Thanksgiving Day loss in Dallas. “I think Mora would like to be more aggressive,” said one team insider.
NFL whispers

CARDINALS: Our Cardinals sources found it odd that QB Matt Leinart didn’t get any mop-up duty with his team hopelessly behind the Eagles late in the Thanksgiving nightcap. “(Head coach Ken) Whisenhunt said he thought about putting in Leinart, but that he wasn’t willing to concede victory,” a team insider told PFW. “But down by four touchdowns, you’d think they might want to get (Kurt) Warner out of there.”

BROWNS: Browns head coach Romeo Crennel has declared QB Brady Quinn his starter for 2009, but it’s clear to all that Crennel may not be in a position to make that decision next offseason. Quinn is widely expected to be the Browns’ No. 1 quarterback, with Derek Anderson either returning as a backup or being traded, but Quinn’s season-ending finger injury and the potential for significant changes on the Browns’ sideline and in the front office mean that total clarity on the Browns’ QB situation may not be reached until owner Randy Lerner has decided what moves, if any, he will make in the offseason.

COWBOYS: The Cowboys’ locker room might not be as welcoming for Pacman Jones as owner Jerry Jones appears to be. We hear there is a faction of the players that feels that Pacman Jones’ presence could throw off the chemistry and positive swagger that the Cowboys have worked hard to regain. With the playoffs hanging in the balance, the players don’t want any outside distractions during what should be a crucial stretch.

The Fantasy Buzz

Just like he’s been all season, Buccaneers QB Jeff Garcia was very efficient last week, throwing for 165 yards and two scores on just 18 attempts. But here’s guessing he’ll have to throw a bit more than that on Sunday against New Orleans. In a game that could turn into a shootout, Garcia is a good bet to post solid numbers. And even though the Saints’ “D” looked better on Monday night, it still gives up a lot of points.

With fellow receiver Greg Camarillo (knee) out for the season, Dolphins WR Ted Ginn gets this juicy matchup with the Rams all to himself. Miami should have success running the ball at St. Louis, but when QB Chad Pennington does go to the air, Ginn will be his top target against a defense that’s yielded 16 TD passes. Start the speedster with confidence.

Returning from his one-game suspension, Bengals WR Chad Ocho Cinco has to face the Ravens’ ball-hawking defense. Baltimore leads the league with 19 INTs, and you can bet they’ll be putting intense pressure on QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. That will make it difficult for the QB to get the ball to No. 85, who had a measly one catch in his Week One meeting with the Ravens.

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